Schools

TOI Reporter, *Dargah panel to open schools for poor, introduce Sufism* - The Times Of India - India
Tuesday, December 19, 2009

Ajmer: The Dargah Committee on Friday decided to open schools in the rural parts of the state for benefit of poor children. At a meeting held on Friday, the committee also decided to introduce Sufism as a subject at the primary level itself.

"We have decided to open a centre of Indira Gandhi National Open University in the dargah area so that children can learning while they earn," committee president Sohail Ahmed said, "Proposals of opening a teacher's training college for women and an ITI for boys are also in the pipeline."

The condition of surrounding area of dargah is horrible. "The slum area in the dargah region is so dense that one could hardly think of hygiene and education here," said Rajneesh Saxena, a social worker. According to police, these people resort to petty crimes like pick-pocketing, bag-lifting and stealing to eke out a living.

"The main problem of these people are that they are not getting education and the committee is now looking up to improve their living standard by providing them education," added Ahmed.

The committee decided to open schools in the villages first in Ajmer and then in other districts of the state. "We will provide infrastructure and teachers so that children can get free education in these schools," said a member. He also said that spreading of teachings of Khwaja Garib Nawaj Chishti is important in this time of terrorism.

"The theme is that every one should learn about harmony and development that the Khwaja wanted to teach the world," he added.

[Picture from http://www.dargahajmer.com/]